Effect of Zataria Multiflora Extract Oil on Menstrual Cycle in Women

Zataria multiflora Boiss is a plant from Lamiaceae (Mint Family). It is traditionally used for its medicinal effects such as its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties. It has a phytoestrogen which belongs to flavonoid groups. Pervious studies showed that the smelling the extracted oil of this plant accelerates sexual maturity in mice. In this experiment I investigated the effect of smelling this oil on women's menstrual cycle which was not reported in the literature before. For this purpose I examined this oil on 15 single girls. These girls smelled the oil for four months. There were two control groups in this experiment. Analyzing the data from experimental group and control groups showed that smelling this product could bring about meaningful changes in experimental group A (P=0.012, P<0.05) compared to the control groups (P=0.119, P>0.05 for group B). This study provides the first hand evidence for the hypothesis that the smelling of Zataria multiflora extract oil shortens menstrual cycle. The mechanism of its action is not clearly known yet and is open for future researches.